A5439: Amends Fiscal Year 2027 annual appropriations act to require portion of funding for Working Class…

ASSEMBLY, No. 5439 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 Sponsored by: Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN District 19 (Middlesex) SYNOPSIS Amends Fiscal Year 2027 annual appropriations act to require portion of funding for Working Class Families State Supplement to be used for outreach purposes. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. An Act amending the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, P.L.2026, c.27. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. The following language provisions is added to section 1 of P.L.2026, c.27, the annual appropriations act for fiscal year 2027. 10 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 40 Community Development and Environmental Management 49 Agricultural Resources, Planning, and Regulation STATE AID Of the amount hereinabove appropriated for the Working Class Families State Supplement (P.L.2022, c.104, as amended by P.L.2023, c.336) (PTRF), 2.5 percent of such funds shall be utilized for informational and outreach activities to increase awareness of the program. 2. This act shall take effect immediately. STATEMENT This bill amends the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations act to require 2.5 percent of the appropriation for the Working Class Families State Supplement to be utilized for informational and outreach activities to increase awareness of the program. The Working Class Families State Supplement supports expanded eligibility for the free school breakfast and lunch program for working class and middle-income families with household income between 186 percent and 224 percent of the federal poverty level. The Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations act appropriated $15 million to the Department of Agriculture for this purpose. Accordingly, this bill requires the department to use $375,000 for informational and outreach purposes.